Headaches?

[TeresaBenedicta]

I'm going to the doctor on Monday about a headache I've had for almost three weeks now.

I've been known to get the occasional headache from stress or what have you. And I've had two migraines before. But this is something I've not really experienced. For the past three weeks I've suffered a constant, dull pain that usually starts behind my left or right eye (never both at the same time), and as it gets worse (more intense pain, but not sharp or piercing), wrapping around the side of my head. Taking medicine rarely makes it go away, but it does make the pain lessen, usually. There's only been one or two days that I can remember in the past three weeks that I [i]haven't[/i] had the headache. And last night it was super painful, waking me up a few times during the night.

I'm not stressed or anxious. And I'm not depressed (in fact, I've never been more happy in my life). I've been having a hard time falling asleep and a hard time waking up lately (always feeling like I need more sleep). But other than that, no other symptoms.

I mean, it's not usually so terrible that it prohibits me from working or functioning. But it's beginning to worry me a bit, since it won't go away, and since last night it hit an extreme level pain-wise.

[sixpence]

is it at all possible you are dehydrated??
i doubt that would last 3 weeks, but worth a try

[TeresaBenedicta]

[quote name='sixpence' timestamp='1288306307' post='2183302']
is it at all possible you are dehydrated??
i doubt that would last 3 weeks, but worth a try
[/quote]

Hm. I know I definitely don't drink as much fluids as I should... But yesterday, I actually kept refilling my water bottle and probably drank what I was supposed to in water... and that happened to be the worst night I've had so far. So I don't know.

[CatherineM]

When was the last time you had your eye's examined. Mine do that when I need a new prescription. I also get sinus pain there.

[TeresaBenedicta]

[quote name='CatherineM' timestamp='1288306770' post='2183305']
When was the last time you had your eye's examined. Mine do that when I need a new prescription. I also get sinus pain there.
[/quote]

Last year. I've always had really good vision-- even scored better than 20/20. She did have me start wearing reading glasses, though, because the quantity of reading I was doing (just to help my eyes relax). I had been slacking with wearing them, admittedly, so after a week of the headache, I started wearing them again. But they haven't gone away yet. And I haven't noticed any real decline in vision in general.

Could be sinus' though. I've never had much a problem with those, either. But it's def. a possibility. I'm hoping the doctor can figure that out.

Edited October 28, 2010 by TeresaBenedicta

[Tridenteen]

JMJ
please request an MRI from your doctor. Three years ago I had a pain similiar to what you are describing. It was ognored by several doctors, until one referred me to Children's Hospital. It turned out to be a brain tumor.

[holly.o]

[quote name='Tridenteen' timestamp='1288326670' post='2183397']
JMJ
please request an MRI from your doctor. Three years ago I had a pain similiar to what you are describing. It was ognored by several doctors, until one referred me to Children's Hospital. It turned out to be a brain tumor.
[/quote]

This is good advice if the other, simpler stuff doesn't work. Hopefully it's just sinus issues.

Don't worry - we'll keep you in our prayers!

[Totus Tuus]

The only time I got a headache that lasted for more than a week was when I tried to stop drinking coffee when I was 18 (five years ago). However, I do get intense migraines regularly and regularly take Immitrex for it. I get the kind of migraines that me to bed and can get so bad that I vomit all day because of them, so I can sympathize with any headache troubles people have. I sometimes have to miss work or class from them, and they are always accompanied by fever. Mine are usually stress-triggered, but I also have a supersensitivity to smells. I think my last one was caused by a prank in my dorm where all our doors got sprayed with Ax shaving cream. I will definitely pray for you. Normally migraines don't last more than 4 days, but mine have so perhaps yours is a drawn-out migraine as well. I won't play doctor though -- go see yours and let us know what they say!

Edited October 30, 2010 by Totus Tuus

[TeresaBenedicta]

From my research with webmd, it really sounds like "chronic tension headaches." Except, like I said, I'm not stressed or depressed or anything like that, so I'm really unsure as to their cause. This is my first time experiencing anything like this.

Also disconcerting to me is the fact that over the counter medicine isn't doing much for me at all. Well, neither is stronger stuff, for that matter (my dad gave me something of his just to see if it would help).

I don't know. I hope that the doc can figure something out.

[Archaeology cat]

[quote name='TeresaBenedicta' timestamp='1288497717' post='2183781']
From my research with webmd, it really sounds like "chronic tension headaches." Except, like I said, I'm not stressed or depressed or anything like that, so I'm really unsure as to their cause. This is my first time experiencing anything like this.

Also disconcerting to me is the fact that over the counter medicine isn't doing much for me at all. Well, neither is stronger stuff, for that matter (my dad gave me something of his just to see if it would help).

I don't know. I hope that the doc can figure something out.
[/quote]
I used to have chronic tension headaches. I finally figured out that I have certain pressure points that are triggers, so sometimes my glasses were hitting them, or hair bands were too tight and hitting them, or a headrest I was using. Once I figured that out, I learnt to avoid that, and now I rarely have problems, since I can nip it in the bud usually.

[TeresaBenedicta]

So I went to the doctor and left feeling extremely frustrated and upset.

I explained my symptoms and answered his questions... to which he responded, "Well, I don't know. It doesn't sound like a clear cut case or type of headache..." So then I watched as he pulled from his you-know-what... "Here are some neck exercises. And try taking some sleeping pills."

That was it. Right after I had answered that no, my neck didn't hurt and he confirmed that my muscles were not tense in my neck area.

Now, I understand that sometimes doctors don't know all the answers. That's fine, I get it. I honestly didn't expect him to... but I did expect... I don't know, maybe some concern? Some effort trying?

So, I then ask whether I should come back if his two solutions don't help... and he said no, only if I got a fever or really bad neck pain.

What the heck?

So I'm just out of luck?

Ugh I'm sooooo frustrated right now. I hate feeling like this.

[holly.o]

I'm sorry! That is so frustrating...

Can you go to a different doctor? Maybe there's a place nearby that specializes in these types of symptoms.

[cmotherofpirl]

[quote name='TeresaBenedicta' timestamp='1288650439' post='2184061']
So I went to the doctor and left feeling extremely frustrated and upset.

I explained my symptoms and answered his questions... to which he responded, "Well, I don't know. It doesn't sound like a clear cut case or type of headache..." So then I watched as he pulled from his you-know-what... "Here are some neck exercises. And try taking some sleeping pills."

That was it. Right after I had answered that no, my neck didn't hurt and he confirmed that my muscles were not tense in my neck area.

Now, I understand that sometimes doctors don't know all the answers. That's fine, I get it. I honestly didn't expect him to... but I did expect... I don't know, maybe some concern? Some effort trying?

So, I then ask whether I should come back if his two solutions don't help... and he said no, only if I got a fever or really bad neck pain.

What the heck?

So I'm just out of luck?

Ugh I'm sooooo frustrated right now. I hate feeling like this.
[/quote]
While you are looking for a new MD have you considered drinking a full glass of water at bedtime, running a humidifier, checking everywhere for black mold, making sure you are have had enough to eat at all times in case its your blood sugar? Do you drink a lot of pop, tea, coffee or caffeine-laced products? Are you throwing up? Do you have a working carbon dioxide detector?

[dUSt]

I suffer from headaches as well, along with pain on the right side of my face, sometimes on the whole right side of my body. I've had a cat scan and an MRI. They didn't find anything unusual except for a deviated septum--which they said was common and probably not the cause. I haven't been back for over a year and my symptoms still remain. I decided to just live with it. Maybe I'll go back again once my insurance deductible renews.

I get all kinds of headaches. Ones that start behind my eyes. Dull headaches that just linger for days in the back of my head just above my neck. Sudden headaches that just show up whenever I do a strenous exercise. Etc.

Ask for an MRI. They probably won't find anything, but maybe it'll help ease any hidden stress you might be feeling for not knowing whether or not it's something serious.

[elizabeth09]

I had one Monday or Tuesday. It was so bad that after work, I just want to bed. So yes, I suffer from them as well, but not as bad.